Hello everybody! I am planning to build a 4-piece (or more) 10-wt travel fly rod for the salt. I am looking at a couple of different blanks, the Black Dog Tackle “Tiger-Eye” series, the Temple Fork TiCR X 10 wt and several of the more reasonably priced Rainshadow/Forcast series. I am looking for a powerful rod with good line feel and sensitivity. Since it will need to survive the rigors of travel and hurried baggage handlers it must be extremely durable as well, so I am not looking to stay away from the supper high modulus blanks. I was hoping that somebody experienced with these blanks could help me to decide which would be the optimum compromise between the characteristics mentioned above; or are there any other blanks that I should consider. Thanks, Adam

The Rainshadow XF9010-4 would be a good one to look at.

The Graphite USA F4910DHX or the DH models are some of the most durable blanks there is and they fish great. Another to look at would be the CTS or Dan Craft FT blanks. The GUSA rods have saved my bacon on a wilderness trips or tough conditions more than once..

Who retails the GUSA fly blanks?

Bingham Ent. and Mudhole are good starts. Angler's Workshop used GUSA blanks as their shop Salt Stalker and Stream Stalker blanks, they may have some left. They had quite a pile of them at an excellent sale price back at the first week of last month when I was in last. Beautiful green blanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2007 09:44PM by Spencer Phipps.

Adam,
The Dan Craft FT 9' 4pc in 8wt will easily handle a 10wt line and is a very durable blank. If you can get away with a 9wt use the FT 7wt blank - my favorite. If you go with the Dan Craft FT 10wt you will not load it with a 10wt line.
Herb

The Dan Craft seams to be well liked, how does it compare to the TFO and the GUSA?

I have several of the tiger eye blanks and am very well pleased.. I have a blank in my hand that is a 9 foot 14 weight. It will get built next.
I don't think you can beat the quality and the price of the tiger eye blanks.

I don't think the TFO blanks are anywhere near the durability or quality of the GUSA or Dan Craft.
The GUSA's dual helical layup is extremely durable and helps keep the blank round under loads that would shatter others. The GUSA saltwater blanks are renowned for the the power, fishability and abuse they can take, much more than most graphite blanks. The same design is used in the fly rods. Don't forget the CTS blanks. Just built up a lighter 4/5 version and it shows , so far, design advantages of both helical and conventional layups in a nice light , lively package.